Drive in theatre



March 25, 1958 1.. E. GRAY DRIVE IN THEATRE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1953 Pows.

m 4 w 2 e flr G 7 a 0 E ZM,B E M w M m, 1- z m F L. E. GRAY DRIVE IN THEATRE March 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1955 INVENTOR. -4.4z/e-5 '5. 624v,

United States atent "G DRIVE 1N THEATRE Laverne E. Gray, San Angelo, Tex.

Application June 5, 1953, Serial No. 359,798

2-Claims. (Cl. 179-1) This invention relates to a drive in theatre of the type having combined speakers and heaters at patrons stations, and .has for its primary object to provide improved devices of this kind which effect economies in the operation of such a theatre.

Another object is to effect economies in the operation of drive in theatres by providing improved heaters at patrons stations adapted to be introduced into the patrons vehicle during his occupancy of a patrons station in the theatre.

Still other objects are toprotect the speakers and heaters from'the elements when they are not in use, and to disconnect them from their respective energy sources when they arenot in use.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a supporting stand adjacent a patrons station of a drive in theatre, a portable speaker adapted when inactive to rest on the stand, and a switch carried by the stand and operatively connected to the amplifying circuit of the theatre and to the speaker for establishing electrical communication between the amplifying circuit and the speaker when the latter is removed from the stand.

Other features include a heater adapted when inactive to rest on the stand, and a switch carried by the stand and operatively connected to the heater and to a source of electrical energy for-establishing electrical communication between the heater and the source of electrical energy when the heater is removed from the stand.

I Still other features include a head carried by the stand and having 'a speaker receiving compartment therein, said head (also having a heater receiving compartment therein, a -platform pivotally mounted in the head for movement in an arcuate path in the speaker receiving compartment for supporting a speaker when it is in inactive position, and a switch mounted within the compartment and extending into the path of movement of the platform for connecting and disconnecting the speaker with an amplifying circuit when the speaker is removed from the platform, a second platform mounted within the heater receiving compartment for rocking movement in a vertical arcuate path and upon which the portable heater is supported when inactive, and a switch mounted within the heater compartment and in the path of movement of the platform therein, and said switch being operatively connected with the heater and with a source of electrical energy to disconnect the heater from the source of electrical energy when the heater is in inactive position on the platform Within the compartment.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fragment of a drive in theatre equipped with a patrons station and a stand on which the speakers and heaters in accordance with the present invention are supported;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the stand showing a heater and a speaker withdrawn from their respective compartments on one side of the stand,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially onthe'line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure '2,

Figure 5 is a'vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure'2, and

Figure 6-is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings in detail the illustrated drive in theatre is equipped with a conventional patrons stand comprising a pedestal 10 which is mounted on a conventional curbing C in which is embedded a conduit '12 through which are extended cables ,14 and 16. The cable 14 contains conductors 1-8 'and 20 which are connected to the amplifier circuit of the theatre. Contained in the cable '16 are conductors, and 24 which are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy-not shown. As illustrated in the drawings, the pedestal 10 is hollow and carries adjacent its upper end a hollow head :or housing designated generally 26 having dual horizontal partition walls 28'and'30 which separate thehousing 26 into upper speaker receiving compartments 32 and 34, and lower heater receiving compartments 36 and 38. Formed in opposite ends of the housing '26 are door openings 40 and 42 through which access may be had to the chambers 32, 34, 36 and 38. Vertically hinged on each end of the housing 26 for movement into closing relation with the door openings 40 and 42 are doors 44and 46 which'when closed serve to protect the contents 'of the compartments 32, 34, '36 and 38 against the elements. As illustrated, the pedestal 10-is provided adjacent its upper end with diametrically opposed openings 48 and 50 and spaced below the openings 48 and 50 are diametrically opposed openings 52 and 54. The opening 48 establishes communicationbetween the interior of the pedestal 10 and the compartment 32 while the opening 50 establishes communication between the interior of the pedestal 1'0 and the compartment -34. Likewise the opening -'52 establishes communication between the interior of the pedestal 1-0 and *the compartment 36'Whllfi the opening 54 establishes communication between the interior of the pedestal 10 and the compartment 38. V

A back wall 56 for each compartment 32, 34, 36 and 38 is :providedadjacent its bottomwith ahorizontal wall 58. A transversely extending horizontal slot '60 is provided ineach back wall near its lower end, adjacent ;the

upper edge of the slot -60 are pivots 62 uponwhich are rockably supported vplatforms '64 carrying tongues 66 which project through the openings 48 and 50 in the pedestal 10 as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 2. The compartments 32 and 34 are identical in construction and supported on the bottom wall 58 of each compartment 32 and 34 is a normally closed switch 68 having an actuating button 70 which projects upwardly and into the path of movement of the platform 64 so that when the platform is lowered under the weight of a speaker introduced into the compartment 32 or 34 the button 70 will be depressed to open the switch 68. Carried by the bottom wall 30 of each compartment and extending through the respective openings 48 and 50 of the pedestal 10 are extensions 72 to the ends of which remote from the partition walls 28 and 30 are connected retractile coil springs 74, the opposite ends of which are connected to the tongues 66 carried by the platforms 64 so that when a speaker is lifted from its respective platform, the platform will be moved in its arcuate path under the influence of its spring 74 away from the actuating member 70 of the switch 68 to permit said switch to close.

A portable speaker S is connected through a conventional conductor containing cable 76 with the theatre amplifying circuit through the switch 68 so that when the speaker S is removed from its platform 64 it will be automatically connected to the amplifying circuit. The speaker may be suspended in the interior of the patrons vehicle as suggested in Figure 1.

In order to provide comfort for the patron during cooler weather, a portable heater H is connected through the medium of a conventional conductor containing cable 80 through a switch 82 mounted in the lower portion of the compartment 38. This switch 82 has an operating member 84 extending upwardly into the compartment and beneath a rocking platform 86 which is suspended from the back wall 88 of the compartment 38 for movement in a vertical arcuate path into which the actuating member 84 projects. The platform 86 like the platform 64 previously described is provided with suitable mechanism designated generally 90 for holding the platform 86 tilted until such time as the heater H is replaced into the compartment 38 and placed upon the platform 86 so as to cause the platform 86 to descend against the resistance of the holding means 90 and engage the actuating element 84 of the switch 82 to open the switch and break the circuit between the conductors 22 and 24 and the heater.

By thus disconnecting the speaker from the amplifying circuit during its periods of inactivity, and by thus disconnecting the heater from its power circuit during its periods of disuse, it will be evident that material savings will be eifected in the .operation of a drive in theatre equipped with. this improved control mechanism and no energy will be expended by either unit when it is returned to its respective compartment.

Not only are economies effected in current consumption, but also the necessity of employing an attendant to visit each patrons station in order to ascertain whether or not either the speaker or the heater is left turned on, can be eliminated.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drive in theatre, a sound amplifier circuit, a patrons station, a stand at said station comprising a pedestal, a hollow horizontal housing on the upper end of the pedestal, said housing having an open end, a horizontal partition within said housing at said open end,

said housing having a bounding wall vertically spaced from said partition, the space between the partition and the bounding wall defining a compartment, a horizontal platform pivotally supported on a horizontal axis on said partition, said platform having an inner end and an outer end, said outer end terminating in the region of the open end of the housing, a normally closed switch mounted on said partition beneath the outer end of the platform, means biasing said platform upwardly out of engagement with the switch, a removable speaker having conductor means in circuit with said switch and the amplifier circuit, said speaker normally resting upon said platform within the housing and depressing the platform into circuit opening engagement with the switch and being removable through the open end of the housing to enable the biasing means to elevate the platform and enable the switch to open.

2. In a drive in theatre, a sound amplifier circuit, a patrons station, a stand at said station comprising a pedestal, a hollow horizontal housing on the upper end of the pedestal, said housing having an open end, a horizontal partition within said housing at said open end, said housing having a bounding wall Vertically spaced from said partition, the space between the partition and the bounding wall defining a compartment, a horizontal platform pivotally supported on a horizontal axis on said partition, said platform having an inner end and an outer end, said outer end terminating in the region of the open end of the housing, a normally closed switch mounted on said partition beneath the outer end of the platform, means biasing said platform upwardly out of engagement with the switch, a removable speaker having conductor means in circuit with said switch and the amplifier circuit, said speaker normally resting upon said platform within the housing and depressing the platform into circuit opening engagement with the switch and being removable through the open end of the housing to enable the biasing means to elevate the platform and enable the switch to open, and a door hinged on and normally closing the open end of the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,469,986 Phyfe May 10, 1949 2,549,676 Dunn et al. Apr. 17, 1951 2,588,756 Ofterbro et al. Mar. 11, 1952 2,613,307 La Mirand Oct. 7, 1952 2,613,308 La Mirand Oct. 7, 1952 2,646,496 Takach July 21, 1953 2,661,505 Dilione Dec. 8, 1953 

